FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Members of Class 01-12 proudly stood in formation as they accepted their certificates of completion as the first graduates of a new postwide training program Friday at the Light Fighter School. The graduation ceremony marked the end of nearly two weeks of mentally and physically demanding training, which was aimed at producing junior leaders able to effectively lead Soldiers in conducting small-unit operations.
Fifteen Soldiers completed the inaugural graduating class of the Mountain Warrior Leaders Course, which Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander, nicknamed "Merritt's Marauders," after Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Merritt, division senior enlisted adviser and one of the founders of the Mountain Warrior Leader Course.
The Mountain Warrior Leader Course is intended to introduce, teach and test students' knowledge of Soldiering skills and individual leadership. The course is not military occupational specialty specific and ultimately will be a requirement for all junior leaders in the sergeant, staff sergeant and second lieutenant pay grades who are not Ranger-qualified. However, class slots that remain unfilled will be made available to junior-enlisted Soldiers.
"If I've got slots open before a class starts, I will not turn away any specialists or privates first class that want to step up," said 1st Sgt. Gonzalo E. Lassally, Light Fighter School commandant. Lassally and Merritt were hand-picked to design and create the school.
The Mountain Warrior Leader Course is part of Milley's vision to have in place a comprehensive training program that reacquaints Soldiers with basic core competencies and leadership skills.
The Mountain Warrior Leader Course is the first of three courses designed to take Soldiers from the pre-Ranger to Ranger-equivalent levels. The two others are the Mountain Winter Warfare Course and the Commando Course, which are slated to begin this month.
"The commanding general's vision dates from a 'white paper' that was written probably several decades ago," said Lassally. "It spells out the light fighter ethos, the mentality of what makes up a light fighter. (He) wants to integrate that ethos into the division."
The challenges began immediately after the students' arrival, when everyone took the Army Physical Fitness Test and had to successfully pass in their age category to stay in the course.
Continuing through the course, students received comprehensive training in a variety of leadership-focused subjects such as writing an operations order, implementing troop-leading procedures and mastering hot- and cold-weather injury prevention. Basic Soldiering skills, such as battle drills, and more advanced skills, such as military operations on urban terrain, also were covered.
Every Soldier found a different part of the course to be more difficult than the others. Pfc. Christopher Carter, a Soldier from 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, had to prepare the most for the 12-mile ruck march.
"The ruck marches were the hardest part for me," he said.
For others, it was the sudden move to a leadership position that tested them the most, especially when they had to make numerous simulated combat decisions quickly.
"It was pretty challenging at first," said Spc. Shawn Lane, 3-71 Cavalry. "You go from taking notes to all of a sudden being in charge, pitching out orders on a patrol."
The course was taught using a gradual progression from the classroom to the field, ensuring the students acquired a sense of confidence in their abilities to both lead and teach their fellow Soldiers in combat. Each concept was introduced, familiarized, practiced and concluded, with individual students being tested on their ability to demonstrate their understanding.
"Once you've been in the course for a little while, you understand that everyone has the same information," Lane said. "You just take what you learned and put it into effect when you're put in charge."
Five of the graduates are cadre at the Light Fighter School, while the rest are Soldiers with 3-71 Cavalry. Sgt. Kirke Best, Light Fighter School, was named Honor Graduate.
Other graduates of Class 01-12 are as follows:
* Second Lt. Santiago Real, 3-71 Cavalry
* Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Gordon, LFS
* Staff Sgt. Stephen Morris, LFS
* Staff Sgt. Brandon Woodson, LFS
* Staff Sgt. Edgardo Diaz, LFS
* Spc. Shawn Lane, 3-71 Cavalry
* Spc. Benjamin Haydel, 3-71 Cavalry
* Spc. Joe Flores, 3-71 Cavalry
* Spc. David McGlaughlin, 3-71 Cavalry
* Spc. Zachary Mielke, 3-71 Cavalry
* Spc. Timothy Brauer, 3-71 Cavalry
* Spc. Joshua Wilfong, 3-71 Cavalry
* Spc. Gilberto Tapia, 3-71 Cavalry
* Pfc. Christopher Carter, 3-71 Cavalry.
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